I am compiling a list of ships particularly RN vessels that were broken up at Pounds of Portsmouth post war. If any members know of ships that were broken up or purchased by Pounds the information would be appreciated. Any images would also be greta to see.

Peter4447

11th March 2007, 18:45

Can't help with names Steve but I think they had a submarine alongside for several years.
Peter4447

Hms Stalker also went to pounds but not if scrapped ( Mk 3 LST from WW11

Hawkeye

13th March 2007, 00:49

Hi Stevo

There are a series of books in print called 'To Sail No More'. The first two has pictures from many of the scrapyards around that the time. They do a tour around the Bristish Isles going around the country's scrap yards. There is a lot of photos from Pounds in these books. They are published by the same publishers of the magazine 'Warship World' from their base in Lisguard, Cornwall. If you contact them, they may be the best ones to help you.
Here is there website adress:
http://www.navybooks.com/
This is another one which may be of help:
http://britishwarships.cjb.net/
Good luck
Karl

robandbarbara

13th March 2007, 11:33

HMS Stalker was still mostly intact at Pounds at the end of last year, having failed to be saved for preservation.

About ten or fifteen years ago there was an S Class submarine. Either HMS Satyr ,transferred to France as the Saphir and later returned to the UK to Pounds for scrap or HMS Spiteful, to France as the Sirene and returned to Pounds for scrap.

There were many more both civil and naval vessels purchased by Ponds but
but not all demolished at Tipnor. Some sold on.

Stevo

13th March 2007, 17:07

Thanks for that folks, all this information will be useful. I also heard that Pounds bought the Hong Kong 'Ton' class patrol boats in the mid 80s, can anyone confirm this?

Thanks again

Paul UK

13th March 2007, 17:36

Stevo they also but some tanks

Paul

billyboy

13th March 2007, 23:29

I towed a large floating crane into there with a Tid tug back about 1960 time.
Seem to recall there were everything there from old diesel locos to submarines. Mfv's to minesweepers. Back in those days it would not have been unusual to see smoke coming from the yard as "old Harry" was burning the insulation off copper wire....LOL. I was amazed at what he had there, even ex USAF pickup trucks in fine fettle too!. we towed the floating crane there from sheerness, and yes, given it was only a steam TID tug (tidworth) there were times we doubted if we were moving. 300 meters of crane bond cable out, all had to be recovered by hand as there was no capstan or winch available. No radar or even radio either. bit hjairy coming passed Dover in thick fog i can tell you but thats another story.

brian_b_nz

15th March 2007, 05:24

I believe they had Grey Goose there for a time. I’d like to know my self what ever happen to this vessel.

Bannedus

18th March 2007, 14:41

Grey Goose is now a yacht named ANSERAVA.

billyboy

18th March 2007, 23:23

Hmmm the grey goose eh! quite a ship she was. skippered by Peter scott (artist) i believe. I saw her at newhaven for a while (decommisioned) I believe she went on to Shoreham after that where were plans were made to turn her into a yacht. be nice to see a picture of what she looks like today.
Spoke with some ex matelots who were at dover. grey goose used to enter port very fast compared to other craft, a kick astern used to settle her into her berth. Apart from scaring the heck out of other people with it, Peter Scott used to handle her very well.

twogrumpy

2nd May 2007, 11:50

Had a short wander around the yard myself, could have played in there for days.
Was told that before the days of H & S, photographers would ask to go in and take a few pictures, the reply being, OK by me, but it's your problem if you kill yourself.
Had to be carefull driving into Portsmouth while trying to spot what was in the yard!
two grumpy

Fortunity

9th May 2007, 23:40

Pounds are yes that was are playground early 50's on the tanks and lorrys then on to the ships until harry got the dogs on us all great fun go home covered in grease great

allantcondie

10th May 2007, 14:20

They had the VIC 79 in which was delivered there on 20th April 1961 and sold on to Ian Dutch of Perth for sand dredging.

John M. Bowdler

20th June 2007, 18:01

I was stationed at Hilsea Barracks in 1948 (Army) and remember a few subs (I am sure there has been/was a web site showing shots of sub's. etc that had been there, also quite a number of different landing craft, as well as other craft all in a right mess all around the area (sea/land). In the area were also complet and pieces of tanks, lorries and I seem to remember seeing bits of aircraft.

Ted Else

27th June 2007, 15:09

Billy Boy
I do have a couple of shots of Anserava the ex HMS Grey Goose. she is berthed at Hoo Nr Rochester Kent UK. The Marina is very security conscious - so you may have some difficulty getting a decent shot - I can mail them to you
Regards

sirrom

7th July 2007, 00:37

if i remember correctly....arry ad sum ham class minesweepers there also.one showed up in s spain and if i remember was on way back to pompey...

Stevo

9th July 2007, 14:36

To my knowledge, during the late 80s Pounds had the Aveley which was broken up by June 88, Shipham, Fordham neither of which appeared water tight and the Dittisham which came into the yard in about 1990, having had some kind of conversion work done on her.

Gravity

20th January 2009, 23:08

I served on the Aveley and great to see these pictures as wondered what happened to her. While I was on it we had a collision and many other stories too!!

paull.happyhiker

10th May 2009, 21:04

didnt the old isle of wight ferry mv brading meet her fate there i always used to love going over the motorway bridge and looking in. If my memory is right wasnt there a huge fire in the place

Stevo

11th May 2009, 17:47

Yes Brading was there for a few years and finally demolished in 1994. During the final phase of breaking there was a fire onboard which gutted the hull. Now the only vessels there is some small half demolished coaster and the olf King Harry chain ferry which is in the final phase of being demolished. Stalker lies on the beach near the yacht club slip with her bow doors removed but nothing else is happening. On the inner side of the yard a few twisted remains of the old RN frigate Volage protrude through the muck at low tide. Of late they have being pulling old chunks of scrap out of the water for breaking down on dry land.

Abbey Hill

23rd July 2009, 17:54

Thanks for that folks, all this information will be useful. I also heard that Pounds bought the Hong Kong 'Ton' class patrol boats in the mid 80s, can anyone confirm this?

Thanks again

I am certain that all the HK tons were sold scrapped locally. HMS Wolverton was converted to a nightclub/casino and caught fire at Aberdeen Harbour HK. There are photos on the ton class assoc website.

The ship that is of interest is ex ton class HMAS Teal now in northern Cyprus as a university training ship and I cannot find anything about her on the internet.

melliget

30th July 2009, 09:39

Stevo.

Found this one in The Times.

The Times, Thursday, Mar 23, 1972
Submarine sold
The submarine Artemis, which
sank in Portsmouth Harbour last
year, trapping three ratings for 10
hours, has been sold by the
Ministry of Defence. She has been
brought (sic) by Mr Harry Pounds, a
Portsmouth scrap dealer, for an
undisclosed figure, believed to be
more than £20,000.

A little tricky finding others as Pounds is a common word but, if you have a ship name and year, I can check further.

regards,
Martin

nodes

30th July 2009, 10:23

I remember seeing RMAS Pochard being cut up and also the RMAS Pintail was there for some time, unsure if he broke her up or sold her on. Definitely bought and sold on the RMAS Mandarin and RMAS St Margarets. Also the three training fleet tenders from HMS Raliegh the Mentor, Makering and ? for £113k and sold two very quickly for about £250k.

Alan B

9th August 2009, 20:19

Volage which was laid up for many years was finally scrapped there. The Type 14 Russell was scrapped at Pounds in the 90s aswell.
Hope this helps
Al

stevo r6 86

18th August 2009, 11:28

i know all the tanks have now gone but remain two buffalo amphibians(of some sort) and what looks like a possible caisson of mulberry harbour,not alot of scrapping goes on there now,as now a disharge site for dredgers mainly the donald redford owned by northwood.

captain61

27th August 2009, 17:13

I think majority of the tons hams and leys ended up at pounds
some one told me there is a book called to sail no more is based on pounds hope this is of some use

Stevie B

27th August 2009, 17:48

The Donald Redford used to go into Pounds, I was the Skipper but she is now laid up at Marchwood.
My old man bought a inshore minesweeper in the 70's, she was call the Briearley, think thats the right spelling, she had been used by the Navy as a diving boat out of Dartmouth

stevo r6 86

28th August 2009, 12:35

The donald redford is my favourite ship, i loved seeing her up at fareham quays, i also got a waterpaint picture of her. do you know what is going to happen to her? or if anyone has bought her?

chadburn

28th August 2009, 12:43

stevie B, HMS Brearley, 1955/56 In Reserve at Hornet Gosport, 50th MS Port Edgar, 51st MS, Dartmouth Training Tender 1963, Disp list 1969, Pounds 1973 she was at one time a nice looking vessel. 2off Paxman 550bhp, they were Minehunters as opposed to Minesweeper's as they had no winch or sweeping gear. How long did your Pop's have her and what happened to her?

Stevie B

28th August 2009, 12:51

The donald redford is my favourite ship, i loved seeing her up at fareham quays, i also got a waterpaint picture of her. do you know what is going to happen to her? or if anyone has bought her?

The Redford was built for use on the Manchester Ship Canal, the then owner of Northwoods bought her and had 8 mts put in her and the dredge gear put on. On the MSC she used a crane and the spoil was pumped out.
As far as I know the owners are going to look at things in the new year then decide what to do with her.

Stevie B

28th August 2009, 12:58

stevie B, HMS Brearley, 1955/56 In Reserve at Hornet Gosport, 50th MS Port Edgar, 51st MS, Dartmouth Training Tender 1963, Disp list 1969, Pounds 1973 she was at one time a nice looking vessel. 2off Paxman 550bhp, they were Minehunters as opposed to Minesweeper's as they had no winch or sweeping gear. How long did your Pop's have her and what happened to her?

Thanks for the info on her, the thing I remember about her was that she had 4 Foden main engines, 2 to a shaft, same as the generators. We had her for about 4 or 5 years, sold her to a guy who was going to take her to the Med.

In the early 80's the old man bought another one, this was call Lasham, had nerver been used as a sweeper, laid up after it was built and then sometime later converted to a torpedo recovery vessel in Scotland, she had 2 Paxman mains and 2 Foden gennys. We used her as a support boat for the J class yacht Velsheda that the old man rebuilt and re-launched in 83.

Richie2012

2nd September 2009, 15:35

Donald Redford always looks smart, i noticed at fareham the goole star the little motor barge had been going in there, is that owned by Northwards?

chadburn

4th September 2009, 13:19

As you say Stevie B, Lasham, 1955/57 in Reserve, Gosport. 1958/63 in Reserve, Hythe. 1964/79 T.R.V. Sold 1981. Fodens were at one time one the RN's favourite of the smaller engines and therefore plenty of surplus one's around at one time, a bit cheaper to run than a Davy Paxman!

stevo r6 86

7th October 2009, 12:37

i looked up goole star as i also have seen her at northwood at fareham, im not sure how old the site is but its for sale apparently with capitalboats on the isle of wight,got all the specs and nice pics too!

awateah2

7th October 2009, 13:57

'Anserava' ex 'Grey Goose'

WARSHIP DISPOSAL

29th December 2009, 12:35

stevo i have some pics of pounds if you want to get in touch

tigerc20

29th April 2010, 19:34

hi stevo, i don't know if this will help? HMS ARTEMIS, A class sub. 1st july 1971 - Foundered whilst alongside at Gosport. 6th july 1971- was raisted by salvage vessels Golden eye and Kinloss. in 1972 - sold to H.G. Ponds of Portsmouth, for breaking up.

Hms Stalker also went to pounds but not if scrapped ( Mk 3 LST from WW11

Hi Paul Otus wasn't broken up at pounds follow this link I think you will be suprised to see where she ended up (EEK)
http://www.hms-otus.com/

Yours Aye

Manxman 52

IAEGMOOH

26th September 2010, 07:17

Weather Surveyor (ex HMS Rushen Castle) was sold to Pounds on 7th July 1977 and used as a salvage ship.
Pictures of her in Fareham creek and being towed out of Portsmouth to the Netherlands for scrapping are on my site at
http://www.weatherships.co.uk/rs.htm (scroll to bottom of page)

FG86

25th January 2011, 21:10

I concur, St Margarets broken up around 1992 and a few years before the Type 14 frigate Russell, Russell had her superstructure removed and was towed under the bridge to be beached on the other side of the motorway. Remains of Artemis were still visible during my last visit in 2000. I have a photo of the conning tower of an S class that was stored on top of one of Harry's sheds, likewise an old Mk6 4.5 twin turret was stored next to a still intact and complete crated Whirlwind helicopter when visited in 1992.

Buffer

24th February 2011, 11:21

If I remember rightly Pounds yard also scrapped the submarine "Explorer", one of the trial boats for Hydrogen Peroxide propulsion system. A very dodgy system which earned her the nickname of "Exploder".

Dickyboy

24th February 2011, 12:45

Goole Star was working in June 2010, and looked in pretty good knick
Seen here at that time on the River Medina
For Sale.......... http://www.capitalboats.co.uk/pdf/commercial/goole-star.pdf

Stevo

24th February 2011, 15:02

St Margarets was never broken up at Pounds. Although sold to the breaker/owner in Jan 1986, the St Margarets was destined for resale and finally departed Portsmouth under tow along with the tank landing/trials platform Whimbrel destined for Livorno on 22nd Feb 1990 for new owners Guiseppe Pierueci SNC for a reputed conversion to a sailing ship.

The sub conning tower that was seen in the yard was the former Statesman.
Neither Explorer or Excaliber were broken up at Pounds, rather Barrow and Inverkeithing. The sub you probably saw was the old US WW1 sub USS Crocodile which was leased to the RN in the early days of WW2 as a training sub and renamed P556. This sub remained at Pounds in a deteriorated state through until 1990.

FG86

24th February 2011, 15:10

Thats interesting regarding St Margarets, Mr Pound junior showed me aronud the yard and within one of the containers was the full array of St Margarets engine telegraphs, brass plates and name boards, they must of sold her on partly stripped of interesting bits. Have you gaot any idea to which vessel the Mk6 4.5 turret belonged? The submarine skeleton was definatly an A class as she had the distinctive foreplanes still in the semi resessed stowage, unique to A Class boats.

Stevo

24th February 2011, 17:51

If it was the sub inboard of the remains of the pier at the sea end if Pounds, then it was defo the Artemis. The other remaining sub lying outboard of Volage in Tipnor Lake was the Tiptoe, both were scrapped around 1991.

BUGGINS

24th February 2011, 19:15

Apart from the 6 Oberons of which 2 were sold on Pounds scrapped Artemis, Tiptoe, P556(the ex US one which lay aground off Portchester for years) and Statesman which the French ran as Sultane - it was her rounded conning tower which could be seen. The main problem is in establishing what was actually scrapped since Mr Pounds almost certainly sold on more than he scrapped.

gil mayes

27th February 2011, 15:27

ST. MARGARETS and WHIMBREL were sold by Pounds Marine Shipping Ltd, Portsmouth to Guiseppe Pierueci SNC (Armamento D. Tripcovich S.p.A.) and sailed Portsmouth as stated on 22 Feb 1990 in tow of tug JUPITER bound for Naples. Both were stripped and in poor condition. There had been much speculation since arrival at the yard of possible sales one of which was for conversion to a sailing vessel as stated.
Gil

Rozzer

28th January 2012, 12:54

I have the following ships which it would appear were purchased by Pounds: -

Naval Armaments Vessel Chattenden – December 1967 and sold on
RFA Salveda – February 1972 and sold on
RFA Eddybay – September 1963 sold to Belgian ship breakers
RFA C620 – 1966 for breaking - not sure if this was by them or another Company
RFA C619 – reported to be at Pounds in July 1965
RFA C10 – Nov 1962 and sold on for further service
RFA Spa – September 1970 and sold on to Irish ship Breakers
RFA Samson – April 1977 and sold on
RFA Wave Monarch – March 1960 and sold on
RFA Wave King – March 1960 and sold on to BISCO
RFA Wave Conqueror – December 1958 and sold on

I hope this helps

Rozzer

Stevo

30th January 2012, 20:50

Rozzer that's lovely, a couple of those I knew of and a few of them were not in the list I have.... I have made additions to your inclusions below...

RFA C620 – 1966 for breaking - not sure if this was by them or another Company (sold to Pounds 09/65)

RFA C619 – reported to be at Pounds in July 1965 (sold to Pounds 05/65)

RFA C10 – Nov 1962 and sold on for further service

RFA Spa – September 1970 and sold on to Irish ship Breakers (09/70)

RFA Samson – April 1977 and sold on (24/12/77 to Italian buyers.)

RFA Wave Monarch – March 1960 and sold on (became an oil hulk at Le Harve eventually being broken up Bilbao 08/04/64)

RFA Wave King – March 1960 and sold on to BISCO (for breaking by TW Ward at Barrow in Furness April 1960.)

RFA Wave Conqueror – December 1958 and sold on (Became a fuel hulk at Le Harve until being broken up at Spezia 23/04/60)

Wavy Navy

8th October 2012, 19:47

Manley was the other ex Raleigh Fleet Tender I believe.

Fangio

28th March 2013, 08:31

I also served on the Aveley and yes there were some great stories! I saw what like a Ley Class converted to a gin palace near Barcelona a few years ago, and just wondered, but obviously not if it was broken up in 88.

Wavy Navy

25th April 2013, 07:50

I remember seeing RMAS Pochard being cut up and also the RMAS Pintail was there for some time, unsure if he broke her up or sold her on. Definitely bought and sold on the RMAS Mandarin and RMAS St Margarets. Also the three training fleet tenders from HMS Raliegh the Mentor, Makering and ? for £113k and sold two very quickly for about £250k.